Drying apparatus



R. B. HIBBARD, D. J.-WATRGU-S, AND J. G. BASSETTE.

\ DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. .18. 1921.

Patented Ju1y2 5, 1922..

3 SHEEiS-SHEEI l.

A lr nzu 8 WUMOM J F1 46- Eliuelfl 1722b Denim .foim, aflmette Cum a, n

Patented July 25, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. B. HIBBARD, D. J. WATROUS, AND J. G. BASSETTE.

DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, I921.

Hull "'"Immm lnllmullunm R. B. HIBBARD; D. 1.,WATROUS, AND J. G. BA SSETTE.

DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1921.

uurrao sures RHUEL BRYANT HIBIBARD, DENTON J. WATRO'US, AND JOHN G. BASSETTE, GROTON,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOBS TO AIRDRY CORPORATION, OF GROTON, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION on NEW YORK.

DRYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, RHUEL BRYANT HIB- BARD, DEN'ION J. WA'rRoUs, and JOHN GIL- BERT BAssE'r'rE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Groton, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Apparatus (Case No. 13), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in drying apparatus and has for its object to provide a simple and efiicient apparatus for delivering a blast ofheated air for drying the face, hands or hair of a person, or for drying jewelry, metal parts, glassware, or

other articles.

The main object of this invention is to provide a drying apparatus formed of two unitary self contained structures designed to be independently embedded in a wall, each of said structures being provided with a face plate adapted to bear against the face of the Wall to give the structure a pleasing appearance. One of said unitary structures embodies a motor blower and air heating element, anda discharge nozzle projecting forwardly through the face plate and through which the heated air is discharged. The discharge nozzle lSl, supported by horizontal pivots and is capable of a limited up-anddown swinging movement to insure the dis charge of the heated air in the proper direction. The other unitary-structure embodies a switch mechanism and a manually operable element connected to said switch and extending outwardly through the face plate of said structure inconvenient position for manipulation. Tlfis manually operable element is preferably a foot lever and the switch structure is preferably mounted in the wall near the floor so that the foot lever may be conveniently operated. The switch contact-points are electrically connected to,

the motor and heater terminals bywires which pass through a tube designed to be embedded in the wall and to connect the two unitary structures.

There are other important objects and ad vantages of the invention which will ap pear hereinafter.

In the drawings of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof, a supporting wall being shown in sectional view Fig. 1 is a front elevation attaching an and the connecting tube being broken away to show the circuit wires; v

Fig. 3 a diagrammatic viewof the electric circuits through theswitch, the motor, and the heating element; Fig. 4 a horizontal sectional view through the motor and the heater box Fig. 5 a vertical sectional view of the apparatus; & v

Fig. 6 a detarl plan view of th switch, a portion being broken away to more blearly show its structure;

Fig. 7 a side elevation of the switch with the contacts separated;

Fig. 8 a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the contacts in engagement;

Fig. 9 an end elevation of the switch in the position shown in Fig. 7'

Fig. 10 a detail elevation oft-he switch lever guide;

Fig. 11 a detail perspective view of the upper part of the cover plate of the motor and the heater box;

Fig. 12 a detail perspective view of the face plate of the motor and the heater box, said plate also forming a support for the motor and the heater element;

Fig. 13 a detail perspective view of the motor and the heater box;

Fig. 14 a detailperspective view of the face plate of the switch box; and

Fig. 15 a detail perspective View of the switch box.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates the motor and heater box which is adapted to beembedded in a wall and is provided on its interior with the upper lugs 2 and the lower lugs 3, said lugs being securedto the interior of the box in any suitable-manner, and serving as the means for rigidly supporting the face plate and m tor support. The box 1 is designed to b embedded in a wall with its outer edge flush with the face of the wall, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The lower part of the box 1 is closed by a face plate 4, said plate carrying inwardly extending bolts 5 which pass through the lugs 3 and are secured in position by nuts threaded on the inner ends of said bolts. The face plate is formed near its side edges with upwardly extending posts 6, which carry inwardly extending flanges 7 at their upward ends. These flanges 7 are adapted to receive bolts 8 which pass through the lugs 2 and assist the bolts 5 in rigidly clamping the face plate to the box andagainst the face of the wall in which the box 1 is embedded. The lower ends of posts 6, at the points where they join the upper edge of the face plate 4, are bored horizontally to receive the bearing and centering pins 9 which are secured in position by set screws 10 threaded through the.

clearly in F ig. 5, the nozzle projects for wardly from the lower portion of the enlarged part 13 of the fan case, the axial line of the nozzle being at a tangent to the circular enlargement 13. The nozzle enlargement 13 is formed with the exterior cam 15 which is adapted to bear upon a friction pin 16 mounted in a socket formed in the face plate 4 and'pressed against the cam 15 by a spring 17. This friction pin serves to hold t e nozzle in any; desired position within the limits of its up-and-down oscillatory or pivotal movement. A motor 18 is mounted in one end of the fan and motor case 11 and carries a fan 19 which rotates in the nozzle enlargement 13, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. An electric air heating element 20 is mounted in the fan case close to the fan, and the end of the fan case adjacent said heating element is open to permit air to be drawn into the fan case and over the heatin coils on its way to the discharge nozzle. in opening or slot 4 is provided in the bottom flange of face plate 4 next to wall surface to permit air to be drawn upward into box 1 and thence to the fan case.

The upper part of the motor and heater box is closed by a cover plate 21 which is secured in position by screws 22 which pass through the face of said plate and into the apertures 23 in the upper ends of the posts 6. The lower part of this cover plate is convexed or bulged outwardly and rounded to completely enclose the fan case, the lower edge of said rounded portion fitting closely against the outer side of the face plate so that said cover plate forms a complete enclosure for the motor and fan case, and closes the upper part of the motor and heater box 1. This cover plate is slotted at 24 to permit the nozzle 14 to extend therethrough and also to provide for the vertical up-anddown swinging movement of the nozzle to the desired position. The motor and fan case and the nozzle are wholly supported on the face plate in such position that when the cover plate is removed the entire mechanism is exposed and access may be had thereto for the purpose of adjustment and repair. The motor and fan case may be shifted laterally in order to center the nozzle in the slot 24 by means of the pins 9, said pinsbeing. held rigidly in position by the screws 10 when a proper adjustment of the motor and fan case has been secured. The cover plate 21 is formed with a flange 25 which is adapted to bear against the face of the wall, as clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The parts connected to and supported by the motor and heater box 1 form a complete unitary structure which may be mounted in a wall in any convenient position, the Wall forming the sole supporting means. Y

The switch box 26 is adapted to be embedded in the wall at the floor, with its open face flush with the face of the wall, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. This box is provided with the lugs 27 which extend downwardly from its upper wall near the front edge thereof. A face plate 28 closes the open side of the box and is formed with a marginal flan e 29 which bears against the wall surface. l3olts 30 connect the face plate with lugs 27 and detachably connect the face plate to the switch box. The face plate'carries an inwardly extending horizontal bracket 31 on which the switch mechanism is mounted; and near its lower end is formed with the outwardl extending lu 32 between which a switc lever 33 is pivoted. The outer end of the switch lever is formed into a treadle or foot piece 34.

The base block 35 of the switch mechanism is secured on the bracket 31. This base block is of a fiber or other suitable insulating material and in the upper face of said block are mounted two stationary con tacts 36 to which the terminal wires 37 of the motor and the heating element are connected. This base block also carries on its upper surface two stationary contacts 38 to which the line wires 39 are connected, these wires being connected to a suitable source of current. Rigidly supported in the base block 35 are two upstanding guide posts 40 having nuts on their upper ends which serve as stops for the vertically movable switch block 41 which is mounted on said posts. The block 41 is formed of fiber or other suitable insulating material and carries two pairs of spring supported contacts 42 and 43. The contacts 42 are each adapted to en gage one of the contacts 36 and one of the contacts 38, so that when the switch block is in its lower position, as shown in Fig. 8, the circuit will be closed through the motor and through the heating element. The switch block 41 is reciprocated vertically by a substantially diamond-shape cam 44 secured to the upper end of a vertical switch in Fig. 7. It. is obvious that when theof the wires.

rod 45, the lower end of said rod being pivoted to the inner end of the switch lever 33. The cam "44 passes through an opening in the block 41 and its cam edges cooperate with apair of rollers 46 journaled in yokes 47 which are mounted in the opening in the block 41. These yokes andthe rollers carried thereby are forced inwardly by coil springs 48 seated in suitable sockets in the block 41 formed at opposite sides of the opening therein. The .yokes 47' are held in position by top and bottom plates 49 secured to the block 41, said platesbeing formed with central openings through which the cam 44 is adapted to pass. The switch block is shown in its upper or off position treadle 34 is depressed, the cam 44 will be forced upwardly between the rollers 46, and i when the widest. part of the cam has passed the rollers, the springs 48 will cause the rollers to movedown the inclined portions of the cam 44 and thereby snap the switch block to its closed or lower position, as shown in Fig. 8.

The inner end of the switch lever 33 is forced downwardly by a spring50, so that when the foot lever is released the rod 45 will be pulleddownwardly and the switch, block 41. snapped into its upper or off position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. A bracket 51 is secured to the under side of the bracket 31, and said bracket 51 is slotted for .the passage of the lever 33. Mounted on the vertical portion 'of the bracket 51 is a. slotted plate 52, said plate being vertically adjustable by means of screw 53. This plate 52 is adjusted vertically in order'tolimit the up-and-down movement of the lever 33 and thereby secure theproper operation of the switch cam 44;

The face plate of the switch block i formedgwith a large approximately central opening 54, and said opening is closed by a. plate 55." The purpose of this opening is to permit of, ready access to the switch mechanism and to the interior of the switch box by merely removing the cover plate 55. .E'AS shown in Figs. 5 and 14, the-inner portion of the bracket 31 is slotted 'for the passage of the switch rod 45.

. Switch box 26 is rigidly connected to the motor and heater box 1 by a vertical tube 56; and the terminal wires 37 are carried through this tube from the switch mechanism to the motor and the heater element. The upper and lower ends of this tube are provided with insulating bushings 57 to prevent the terminal wires, which are suitably insulated, from coming in direct contact vwitli.;,the sharp ends of the tube and the sharp edges of the boxes, thereby avoiding danger of breaking or cutting the insulation The terminal wires are di vided atany convenient point in themotor is desired to dismount the motor and the heater and remove it from the motor and heater box.

To remove the fan case from the box 1, the cover plate is removed and then the set screws 10 loosened. The pins 9 may then be removed to free the fan case.

The wires 39 are shown in Figs. 2 and 5 as entering the switch box 26 from the rear. This is merely for convenience in making the drawings. It is obvious that these wires may enter the box from either side or through the bottom or top as may be necessary.

What we claim is:

1. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box. adapted to be embedded in a wall, a detachable face plate attached to said box and provided with a vertical slot, means for rotatably supporting a motor and heater element in said box, said element being pro- ,vided with a discharge nozzle extending for- Wardlythrough the slot in said face plate and adapted to be moved up and down in said slot to position the nozzle, a switchbox adapted to be embedded in a wall, a face plate detachably secured at the front of said box, a motor and heater element pivotally mounted on one part of said face plate and carrying a discharge nozzle extending outwardly through the slot in said plate and adapted to be moved up and down in the slot to position the discharge end of the nozzle, a switch box, a face plate secured to the front of said switch box, a switch-operating lever mounted on said face plate, a circuitcontrolling switch mounted in the switch box and connected to the switch-operating lever, and circuit wires connected to said switch and leading to the motor and heater element in the motor and heater box.

3. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted. tobe embedded in a wall, a vertically slotted face plate secured to said box and adapted to bear against the wall, a motor and heater element pivotally mounted in said face plate and provided with a nozzle extending forwardly through the slot in said face plate, a switchbox adapted to be embedded in a wall, a face plate closing the front of said switch box and to bear against said wall, a treadle operated switch mechanism mounted in said switch box, said treadle extending outwar -1 y beyond the face plate, and circuit wires connecting the switch in the switch box to the motor and heater element in the motor and heater box.

4. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a motor and heater element mounted in said box, a dischargenozzle extending outwardly through the faceof said box, a

fan to drive air through said nozzle, a

switch box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a manually operable switch mounted in said box and provided with an operating element extending outwardly from said box, and circuit wires extending from the switch box to the motor and heater element.

5. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a motor and heater support adapted to be secured to the face of said box, a motor and heater element mounted on said support to oscillate about a horizontal axis, a discharge nozzle extending outwardly from. said motor and heater element, a fan adapted to drive air through said nozzle, a detachable face plate adapted to be secured in position to cover the motor and heater element and to close the-box, and a manually operable switch mechanism electrically connected to the motor and heater element.

6. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a support secured to said box, a motor and fan case mounted in said support the axis of said case being horizontal, a nozzle connected to said fan case and extending forwardly from the box, a motor mounfid in said case, a fan connected to said motor and adapted to drive air through the nozzle, an electric heater element mounted in position to heat the air driven through the nozzle by the fan, a cover plate adapted to close the box and cover the fan case said cover plate being slotted to permit the nozzle to project therethrough, a manually operable switch mechanism, and means to electrically connect said switch to the motor and to the heater element.

7. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a support secured to said box, a motor and fan case mounted in said support the axis of said case being horizontal, a nozzle connected to said fan case and extending forwardly from the box, a motor mounted in said case, a fan connected to said motor and adapted to drive air through the nozzle, an electric heater element mounted in position to heat the air driven through the nozzle by the fan, a cover plate adapted to close the box and cover the fan case said cover plate being slotted to permit the nozzle to project therethrough, means for laterally adjusting the motor and fan case to position the nozzle in the slot of the cover plate, a manually operable switch mechanism, and

means to electrically connect said switch to the motor and to the heater element.

8. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a support secured to said box, a motor and fan case removably mounted in said support the axis of said case being horizontal, a nozzle connected to said fan case and extending forwardly from the box, a motor mounted in said case, a fan connected to said motor and adapted to drive air through the nozzle, an electric heater element mounted in position to heat the air driven through the nozzle by the fan, a cover plate adapted to close the box and cover the fan case said cover plate being slotted to permit the nozzle to project therethrough, a manually operable switch mechanism, and means to electrically connect said switch to the motor and to the heater element.

9. A drying apparatus comprising a motor and heater box adapted to be embedded in a wall, a support closing the lower portion of said box and formed with upstanding arms near each side thereof, pivot pins mounted in said arms in axial alignment, a motor and fan case pivotally mounted on said pins, a nozzle formed on said fan case and extending forwardly therefrom, a motor mounted in the fan case, a fan connected to said motor, an electric heating element arranged to heat the air driven through the nozzle by the fan, a cover plate secured to said upstanding arms and closing the upper portion of the box and covering the fan case, said cover plate being slotted to permit the nozzle to be moved up and down to the desired position, a manually operable switch, and circuit wires connecting said switch to the motor and to the heater element.

10. A drying apparatus comprising two unitary self contained structures adapted to be independently supported at a distance from each other, one of said unitary struc tures embodying a supporting and enclosing case, a motor blower and heater element mounted therein and provided with an air discharge nozzle projecting therefrom, the other unitary structure embodying an enclos ing case, an electric switch therein, a manually operable device connected to said switch and extending outwardly from the enclosing case, and circuit wires connecting the switch to the motor and the heater element.

11-A. drying apparatus comprising two unitary self contained wall structures adapted to be separately supported, one of said unitary structures embodying a supporting and enclosing case adapted to be embedded in a wall, a face plate adapted to rest against the face of the wall, a motor blower and heater element mounted in said case and provided the switch to the motor and the heater element. 7

unitary self contained wall structures adapted to be separately supported, one of said unitary structures embodying a supporting and enclosing case adapted to be embedded in a wall, a'face plate adapted to rest against the face of the wall, a motor blower and i heater element mounted in said case and provided with an air discharge nozzle projecting outwardly through the face plate, the other unitary structure embodying an enclosing case adapted. to be embedded in a wall, a face plate adapted to bear against the face of the wall, an electric switch in said case, a manually operable device connected to said switch and extending outwardly from the enclosing case, a tube rigidly connecting together the two enclosing casings, and circuit wires extending from the switch through said tube to the motor and the heater element.

13. A drying apparatus comprising two unitary self contained wall structures adapted to be separately supported, one of said unitary structures embodying a supporting and enclosing case adapted to be embedded in a wall, a face plate adapted to rest against the face of the wall, a motor blower and heater element removablymounted in said case and provided with an air discharge nozzle projecting outwardly through the face plate, the other unitary structure embodying an enclosing case adapted to be embedded in a wall, a face plate adapted to bear against the face of, the wall, an electric switch in said case, a manually operable device connected to said switch and extending outwardly from the enclosing case, a tube rigidly connecting together thetwo enclosing casings, circuit wires extending from the switch through said tube to the motor and the heater element, and separable connectors in the motor and heater box and connecting the circuit wires.

14.v A drying apparatus comprising two wall boxes, covers for the outer ends of said boxes, ,a blower and an electric motor for drivin the. same both supported on the in ner si e of one of said covers, said cover 12. A drying apparatus comprising two justed'up and down along having an aperture through which the blower nozzle extends, an electric switch supported on the inner side of the other cover and having operating means extending through the cover, and circuit wires :onnecting said switch and motor.

15. A drying apparatus comprising a blower, a two-part cover for the blower adapted to be held to a wall, means on one part of said cover for supporting the blower at the inner side of the other part of the cover, said cover,-having'an opening through which the nozzle of the blower extends, and means for starting and stopping the blower.

16. A drying apparatus comprising a combined cover and wall-support for a blower divided into upper and lower sections, one section thereof being formed with a verJ tical slot, a blower and an electric driving motor therefor'both supported on the other section of said cover at the inner side of the slotted section, said blower having a nozzle projecting outwardly through said slot, means whereby said nozzle may be adsaid slot, and a motor-controlling switch electrically connected with the motor.

17. A drying apparatus comprising a wall-boX,'a removable front cover therefor, a

'motor and a blower driven thereby and provided with a nozzle, both the motor and the blower being supported on the inner side of the cover and removable therewith, said cover having an opening therein through which the nozzle of the blower extends, and means for starting and stopping the motor.

18. A drying apparatus comprising abox. adapted to be embedded in a wall, a removable vertically slotted cover for the outer end of said box, a blower and an electric motor for driving the same both enclosed by the box and cover and mounted to oscillate as a unit about a horizontal axis, said blower having a discharge nozzle projecting outwardly through the slot in the cover and movable up and down therein, and a switch for controlling the motor.

19. A drying apparatus comprising a removable cover for the open outer end of a wall-recess, said cover having wall-engag ing edges and an outwardly bulged portion, said bulged portion having a vertical slot therein, a blower having anozzle extending through said slot, an electric drivin motor for the blower, an electric heater in t e path of air through said blower, means for supporting said blower and the motor and heater to oscillate as a unit about a horizontal axis located at the rear of the bulged portion of the cover, a switch, and circuit wires connecting said switch with the motor and heater.

I 20. A drying apparatus compr sing a blower, an electric meter for driv ng the blower, an electric heater for heating air' passing through the blower, means for supporting said blower and the motor and heater on a wall to oscillate as a unit about a horizontal axis with the blower nozzle projecting outwardly, a cover for concealing said oscillatable devices and supporting means, said cover having wall-engaging edges and a vertical slot through which the blower nozzle projects, a switch, and conductors connecting said switch with the motor and heater.

21. A drying apparatus comprising a wall-box, a cover for the box having side edges adapted to engage a wall and an outwardly bulged portion, a blower and an electric driving motor therefor arranged side by side, means for supporting the blower and motor so as to be enclosed partly within the box and partly within thebulged portion of the cover, said cover having an opening through which the nozzle of the blower projects, and a switch for controlling the motor.

22. A drying apparatus comprising a wall-box, a removable cover for said box divided transversely into two independently removable sections, one of which sections is provided .with an outwardly bulged portion formed with a vertical slot, a blower and electric motor arranged side by side partly within the bulged portion of said slotted section of the cover and partly within the box with the blower nozzle projecting outwardly through the slot in said cover 

